3 HRS AGO - Another story from that important (to me) Double Cup winning season (and apologies to those  AAers who’ve heard it before). At this point in my professional career I was still teaching Physical Education and had designed a new GCSE course to satisfy the young sportsmen and women in my comprehensive school entitled Sports Science. It […] Collapse

1 DAY AGO - Today’s fluff mixes 8oz plain flour, a pinch of salt, two large eggs, half a pint of milk, and then spills it down its frontThe Mill was down for some long overdue maintenance overnight, offering an opportunity for its gnomic, light-deprived team to get the waders on and finally jab a Vileda Supermop at the knotweed and slime that’s accrued on its spokes. We’re delighted to report that some additional motion has been achieved, and a years-worth of Pogba fluff has been removed along with some extremely Eden Hazardous waste.Happily, safely wrapped in a Lidl bag for life was a bit of tittle-tattle from 2016, which we’ve given an hour or two out on the line and can now re-present to you as if box-fresh: Blaise Matuidi to Manchester United. Juve’s deep-lying midfielder is now 32 but has been linked to a Premier League move since JLS’ Beat Again was top of the charts. Back in 2009, the player was uncapped for France but a target for Arsène Wenger’s Arsenal – now Mikel Arteta has designs on Collapse

2 DAYS AGO - The morning after and I’m still feeling pretty immense about yesterday. It was the sort of game that builds the character of a team and shows who is there to cut the mustard and who there spreading low-fat mayonnaise like a melt. Nearly everyone showed up, the key worry heading into that game for me... Read more » Collapse

2 DAYS AGO - The first half was back to the Arsenal of Arsene Wenger. Some great attacking play and some extremely dopey defending. Key point, the half was a lot fun. We went a goal down inside a minute. A ball into the box came off the back of Luiz’s head, Calvert Lewin dropped an outrageous overhead kick... Read more » Collapse

3 DAYS AGO - Today we entertain an Everton side rejuvenated under the managership of Carlo Ancelotti and certain to give us a tough game. The Italian took up his post at the same time as Mikel Arteta was given the reins at Arsenal and both new men have got off to impressive starts. Arteta has stabilised the good […] Collapse

4 DAYS AGO - I am BACK in New York after spending some time in the very beautiful Savannah. I highly recommend if you are ever in Georgia, what a place. Back home, I was again pondering the weirdness of the criticism that continues to rumble around the new regime. It doesn’t come from serious people, but it is... Read more » Collapse

5 DAYS AGO - Greece is the land where, in times of old, gods walked the earth and mingled with mortals, monsters raged at the heavens and heroes rose up to battle them. In other words, a perfect stage for an epic. But let’s be honest: last night’s game was not an epic, was it? Instead of magic and […] Collapse

5 DAYS AGO - Mikel Arteta wanted a show of character from a side that has lacked it, and what a reward this was. Arsenal rode an early onslaught from Olympiakos and looked set for a creditable draw before going one better, Alexandre Lacazette scoring nine minutes from time after outstanding work from Bukayo Saka and meaning they achieved what only Bayern Munich had previously managed this season: winning at a venue where stronger teams than this have withered.A place in the last 16 is now within their grasp. Related: Olympiakos v Arsenal, Rangers, Wolves all in action: Europa League – live! Related: Anthony Martial puts Manchester United in driving seat against Brugge Continue reading... Collapse

6 DAYS AGO - ‘They need to go to a stadium like here and have courage’Gunners manager sees no reason to rest senior playersMikel Arteta has told his young players that there will be no hiding place amid a ferocious atmosphere against Olympiakos on Thursday night, and that he expects to see a bold performance during a tie that will shape Arsenal’s season.Failure in the Europa League round of 32 is not really an option if Arsenal wish to retain serious hopes of playing Champions League football next season, even if there is cautious optimism about an upturn in domestic form. It means a strong first-leg performance in Piraeus, faced with the Greek league leaders’ notoriously fervent support, is essential. Much of the improvement under Arteta has been underpinned by less experienced squad members like Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli, so he is looking for them to step up in an altogether different environment. Related: Arsenal can still qualify for the Champions League, insists Mikel Arteta Collapse